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#1: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 1:09 pm
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I often find it hard to judge where terrain features likes hills and valleys runs on a map. - I think the overview maps in GtC is a step forward with its yellow contour lines, although the yellow lines are somtimes hard to make out and the terrain in most of the GtC maps is flat.
In WAR and PITF for example the terrain is more varied and contour OVMs are really needed IMO.

I just did a test with contours generated from the heightmap of North Eifel of WAR and I like the results:

North Eifel Contour ovm.png

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#2: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 3:51 pm
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Maybe a 3d view is more usefull for some maps? - It doesnt take any longer to make these in Blender. Simple box geometry could be added for buildings.

3d Eifel.png

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#3: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: Pete, Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 5:34 pm
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Personally I don't really like the contour lines as they obstruct the general view of the terrain. I much prefer your idea of modelling the terrain in 3d.

#4: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 6:56 pm
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I see your point on the lines obscuring the graphics - especially with the current GtC OVMs - They are just screenshots from 5CC where the height coding has been blurred, causing more obscuration than necessary.
I would like to replace the yellow OVM contours with red ones like in the pic below. - I think they minimize the obscuration and provides better terrain awareness while playing.

- On second thought on the 3D OVMs - They will not work for positioning your troops and seeing the larger picture during battles, so I guess thats a non-starter anyway.
Even if 3D with contours could be done:D

Hill 112 red contours.jpg

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Hill 112 Updated contours

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Hill 112 3D red contours.jpg

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3D with contours

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#5: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: Pete, Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 8:17 pm
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Well, the 3D image does not have to be used as the OVM. They could also be used as an extra map preview in a pdf file or so.
As for the contour lines: perhaps decreasing width and opacity would enhance visibility of the map and unit icons on it.

#6: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Wed Aug 02, 2017 10:01 pm
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Thanks for the feedback Pete. - Tried your suggestion with the contour lines, I cant make them thinner than 2 pixels - I am lacking some kind of Photoshop trick to do it, but opacity is lowered.
I also lowered the number of contours by decreasing equidistance - Before it was 0,5m - now its 1m. This declutters the image a bit too.

1m pr contour.jpg

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#7: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: mick_xe5,

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2017 11:34 pm
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ScnelleMeyer wrote (View Post):

...Even if 3D with contours could be done:D

Thom did a set of quasi-3D OVMs with color coded terrain types for CC4&5.

q3d.jpg

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#8: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: Pzt_Kanov, Location: México

Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2017 11:47 pm
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I like every pic in this thread.

A way to enable/disable would be ideal, but I guess it is not possible.

mick_xe5 wrote (View Post):

ScnelleMeyer wrote (View Post):

...Even if 3D with contours could be done:D

Thom did a set of quasi-3D OVMs with color coded terrain types for CC4&5.

Source?

#9: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 12:14 am
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Thanks Kanov! The contour lines mod is under production.
Unfortunately it is not possible to turn off the contours during the game.

Here is a link to Thoms OVMs for CC5: http://www.closecombatseries.net/CCS/modules.php?name=Downloads&op=getit&lid=4196

#10: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 5:40 pm
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Contour mod for GtC to is ready - If you want a head start on your opponent - check it out here:

http://www.closecombatseries.net/Hosted/ScnelleMeyer/Gateway%20to%20Caen/Mods/

From mod readme:
What will this mod do?

This mod will change and add map elevation contours to all GtC overview maps (OVM) that has terrain elevation changes.
These changes will also be reflected in the minimaps.

What will you see ingame?

Maps without contours are flat except for hedges.

The following 7 maps has 1m contour intervals - that is - each line represent 1m of elevation change.

9 - POINT_100
12 - COLLEVILLE
16 - GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON
18 - MONDRAINVILLE
20 - TOURMAUVILLE
22 - GAVRUS
23 - HILL_112

These maps are marked ingame, lower right corner with "CI: 1m".

- All other maps with contours have 0,5m contour intervals to best visualize minute changes in elevation.

Last edited by ScnelleMeyer on Wed Jan 24, 2018 7:20 pm; edited 1 time in total

#11: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:01 pm
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I did the .OVM's for Wacht am Rhein to include all the trees
http://www.closecombatseries.net/Hosted/platoon_michael/WAR%20Files/Maps%20in%20Jpegs/

Your elevation isnt including.....well elevation
Yes you have the contour lines but your not depicting the actual elevation.

10Meters/20 Meters what is it?

Your really going to ask a person in Battle to remember this?..................

The following 7 maps has 1m contour intervals - that is - each line represent 1m of elevation change.

9 - POINT_100
12 - COLLEVILLE
16 - GRAINVILLE-SUR-ODON
18 - MONDRAINVILLE
20 - TOURMAUVILLE
22 - GAVRUS
23 - HILL_112

These maps are marked ingame, lower right corner with "CI: 1m".

- All other maps with contours have 0,5m contour intervals to best visualize minute changes in elevation.

Last edited by platoon_michael on Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:11 pm; edited 2 times in total

#12: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:02 pm
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Where's the rise or fall of the land?

You only painted lines
With no info

If your going to do it .....Do it Right
Display the Meters in numerical # as well as the contour lines.

#13: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:14 pm
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Hey Platoon thanks for the comments. - I would really like to see how your WAR .OVMs look like - Are they included in a mod somewhere?

I am not sure I understand what you are getting at though.
- Countour lines are what is depicted as the red lines and they do represent elevation changes like on a real map.

Most of the included .ovms have the contour intervals at 0,5 meters and a few maps are 1m. - This is explained in the readme sited above.
I opted out of including numbers for each contour as this would clutter up the view and the current elevation can always be checked by right clicking.

#14: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:40 pm
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Yes the red lines indicate changes in elevations but they do not depict what type of elevation change.

Is it up?
Down?

I have no idea by looking at them
Because you didn't include the actual elevation for each line.

somewhere here is a thread for the .OVM's I did but I cant seem to find it.

It is included with StockMod for WAR

#15: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:46 pm
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Here's a look at Champs with the Trees on the .OVM's

UO0035.jpg

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#16: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:53 pm
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If you cant include the actual distance like you mentioned because of the clutter like you mentioned then why not have the distance put on the side of the .OVM?

It can be done.

Also maybe change the lines to depict a rise or fall based on the color of the lines you make.
Say Red is rise
Green depicts a slope

#17: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 8:56 pm
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The .OVM can be manipulated

Out put it with 5CC or whatever your using

Then reduce it to whatever size you need to include the text you want to include

My original .OVM's were so large in size one could actually put a team Exactly where one expected them to be in game while in the .OVM.

The large size of the file for the .OVM will cause some people with slowere CPU's to crash so don't make the .OVM file to large

#18: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 9:04 pm
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Those .OVM - Yeah, ofc they look a lot better with trees - I have seen them as I played your mod:) - I was thinking you had some with elevations on them that I had not seen.
Btw. the ones I made for GtC also include trees in the OVMs. I might opt not to do that for PITF though.

I also saw you edited the post at the same time I was writing - It was clear to me after I read your edit.
-You would like altitude numbers by each line signifying the elevation of each line. - If thats the case I have to disapppoint you, cause thats not going to happen.

I like them as they are and have no problem understanding where the depressions and hills are, but I guess I am fortunate to have read maps a great deal in real army life:D

#19: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 9:07 pm
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Also maybe change the lines to depict a rise or fall based on the color of the lines you make.
Say Red is rise
Green depicts a slope

Again your scale can be deciphered on the side of the .OVM with a little bit of Photoshop help.

#20: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 9:09 pm
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I understand
Its your work........not mine

And yes I did edit my posts several times over

#21: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 9:15 pm
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ScnelleMeyer wrote (View Post):

I like them as they are and have no problem understanding where the depressions and hills are, but I guess I am fortunate to have read maps a great deal in real army life:D

Your point in doing this is to make it easier for people who Don't know the maps.......Correct?

#22: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 9:22 pm
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platoon_michael wrote (View Post):

Also maybe change the lines to depict a rise or fall based on the color of the lines you make.
Say Red is rise
Green depicts a slope

Again your scale can be deciphered on the side of the .OVM with a little bit of Photoshop help.

platoon_michael wrote (View Post):

I understand
Its your work........not mine

Really appreciate your views PM, but this time your were too late for the train:) - I am done with the work on these, but I might make the changes you suggest for PIFT .ovms.

Red rise and Green slope: - How can this be done? - You thinking based on some "base" elevation level on the map?
Scale is depicted lower right corner on my 1m maps.

#23: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 9:27 pm
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platoon_michael wrote (View Post):

Your point in doing this is to make it easier for people who Don't know the maps.......Correct?

Well, I did the mod because I had a hard time understanding where the hills and depressions were on the maps. Was frustrated that my tanks got shot up because I didnt understand where LOS would be. So mostly it was an egoistic mod:D But ofc I am happy to share if others can benefit.

When working on the mod I was surprised by several of the maps that had elevations where I never imagined there was one! - So thats my point to be able to read the terrain better.

#24: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: platoon_michael, Location: Right behind you

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 9:30 pm
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We all do Mods based on our on convictions.

Hence Stock Mod

#25: Re: Maps with contour lines Author: ScnelleMeyer,

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 9:32 pm
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Yeah that is truly right:)

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